What Are We Supposed to Think About Colin Kaepernick Not Getting a Job?

Let’s start with the obvious. Colin Kaepernick is a marginal starting quarterback and will never rediscover the form he showed when en route to the Super Bowl in early 2013. His increased interest in social activism has dovetailed with his decreased production, causing his market value to dip. He’s a divisive figure, engendering strong opinions. One of those is that he’s being blackballed — that he’s not being given a chance he deserves because of his beliefs.

What was once a fringe belief is moving closer to the mainstream as mediocre quarterback after mediocre quarterback finds employment while Kaepernick remains unsigned.

It’s a position I found hard to align with a few short weeks ago, before the NFL Draft finalized. But after the Arizona Cardinals signed Blaine Gabbert to a one-year deal Wednesday, it’s becoming more and more difficult to dismiss.

Even better if I type it correctly: Gabbert getting a job ahead of Kaepernick was my "black ball" line of demarcation. Just crossed.

The two quarterbacks did yield similar results on the scoreboard. San Francisco went 1-4 with Gabbert and 1-10 with Kaepernick.

SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 23: Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines during their NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Levi’s Stadium on October 23, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Again, let’s go back to the obvious. Kaepernick has more talent, a bigger upside and a more thorough body of work than Gabbert. Despite this, he can’t even get a shot at competing for the Cardinals backup job. He can’t get a shot to compete for any backup job. Granted, Gabbert signed for the league minimum and we don’t know Kaepernick’s contract demands.

What is most plausible: that every team with a quarterback need independently decided his social activism precludes him from getting an opportunity or that there’s some sort of coordination taking place?

Any explanation of Gabbert over Kaepernick involves a blindfold and fingers in ears. It requires suspending common sense and embarking on a journey of reverse-engineering.

But it’s also possible that NFL brass refuse to keep their own politics out of football. It’s possible Kaepernick’s being punished for taking a stand, either vindictively or out of the desire to avoid controversy.

As time goes on, and the Blaine Gabberts add up, it’s becoming increasingly easy to believe the more devious option over the innocuous.